Bashneft fires two top production mgrs over Trebs accident
UFA. May 17 (Interfax) - In the wake of an April 20 open gas-oil mix release via an unsealed well collar at the Trebs field section licensed to Bashneft-Lukoil joint venture LLC Bashneft-Polyus, Senior Bashneft Vice President for oil and gas production Alexander Dashevsky and oil and gas production department director Rinat Nagayev have been relieved of their jobs, Bashneft President Alexander Korsik told the press.
"This [the firings] is not because they are at fault in the accident, but because when the company experiences an accident like this someone has to answer for it," Korsik said.
The Federal Natural Resources Oversight Service (Rosprirodnadzor) estimates the damages resulting from the accident at 13.5 million rubles.
A special commission will be looking into the reasons behind the event, Korsik said. "The degree of liability [of company top management] was determined by shareholders," he said.
The company is now doing a review of its subcontractors, which has caused a delay in the project's implementation, Korsik said.
The process is almost complete, he said. "This is a temporary delay, completely tactical. It will in no way have an impact on the timeframe for the project's realization," he said. The start of oil production at the Trebs and Titov fields is still planned for 2013, he said.
The production program for the field's development has not changed, Korsik said. Bashneft and Lukoil's investments here are planned at 12 billion rubles for this year.